Our program took us on a weekend trip to Toledo, Spain. We got to explore the city and tour multiple historic sites.

Author: Mackenzie Mollner | Majors: Spanish and Political Science

Arriving in Madrid, I was immediately taken aback by the richness of the city, a city covered in layers. The weight of being a young constitutional monarchy, while also existing as a country for over 500 years. The contrast of the beautiful cathedrals depicting biblical figures on one aisle and the violent Battle of Granada in another. The portraits and statues of Isabella the Catholic greet you at every major building, serving as a reminder of her divisive legacy. A city layered with history, culture, and spirit.

This summer I chose to spend 4 weeks in Madrid to earn 6 credit hours towards my Spanish minor. I initially chose the Faculty-Led: Spanish in Madrid program due to its immersive nature and my desire to improve on the fluency and authenticity of my Spanish. I could not have predicted how much I would improve in just a month! I was surprised by the stark difference between the formal style of the language that I had used for reading and writing in my classes in Fayetteville and the casual dialect used conversationally. This challenged me to be flexible and willing to adapt to whatever atmosphere I found myself in. Both of my classes at Nebrija University were largely conversation based. In this setting, there was simply not enough time to worry about constructing each sentence and pronouncing each word perfectly. Although this made me incredibly nervous at first, I felt my confidence grow each day in these classes.

I anticipated continually working on my Spanish during my time in Madrid; however, I did not realize how much my understanding of the interconnected nature of history, economics, and culture would expand during my time abroad. Each day my classes got over by 12:30, giving me the entire afternoon to explore the city without a set agenda. There was certainly a learning curve with using the underground metro for the first time, but after figuring that out, I felt that I had the entire city at my fingertips, from Retiro Park to the Royal Palace of Madrid. The transportation system was especially useful for planning weekend trips; we were able to visit 5 other cities in Spain both through the university or on our own time.

As an International Studies major, I was especially interested in learning about the structures and events that have led to Spain as it is today. It is clear that Madrid, as a huge metropolitan, was born out of the cross-cultural interactions that took place here in the centuries prior, including European and Arab influence. Madrid, as well as cities like Toledo and Seville, reflect the ongoing dialogue between cultures and religions that are represented in the country’s art, architecture, and culture. Our program exposed us to this reality through events outside of class hours, such as a tour of the Congress building where we learned about the country’s transition to a constitutional monarchy since their constitution was approved in 1978 or a Spanish cooking class where we learned how to make traditional tapas.

Many of the people I met at Nebrija University were excited to share their favorite spots in the city with me- the places with the best churros or the trendiest clothes. They were proud to share what made their community special with all of us from the University of Arkansas. I felt honored to share in the little moments and experiences that make up someone else’s community. My experience in Madrid challenged me to be eager. Eager to ask questions, eager to understand, and eager to say yes to new experiences in order to get the most out of my time in Madrid.

I would 100% recommend this program to any student at the University of Arkansas, particularly those who are truly passionate about learning Spanish. While we did not have the home stays this year, getting to stay in the Student Residence Halls allowed all of us from the University of Arkansas to build relationships and share our experiences with one another. Looking back, I wish I would have been more patient with myself earlier on in the program. It can be frustrating to not be able to effectively communicate what you are trying to say, but that discomfort is what helps you to grow later on. I am so grateful for the experience I had in Madrid, and I feel better equipped to take on new challenges and work in a continually interconnected world.